60535-pp-diy-nov-2013_dl

Assembly Instructions

Laminate flooring

Lift the look of your favourite room with warm, easy-care laminate flooring. All materials, tools and advice from Pennypinchers.

Step 1 Preparation & underlay Ensure the sub-strate is completely dry, completely level and free of dirt and debris. Decide which way you want your flooring to run. Then cover the whole floor with lengths of underlay, placed at 90째 to the direction of the laminate & taped together. To increase protectionagainst moisture, overlap each width and allow the underlay to run 30 mm up the wall.

Step 2 Begin the 1st row Always begin in the top right-hand corner of your room, positioning the first full plank with the open side of the long click system facing you. Place plastic wedges where both long and short edges abut the wall to ensure an even 10 mm gap.

Step 3 Click short sides together Complete the full row by joining the short sides. Make sure that the planks are installed perfectly square.

Hold each new plank at an angle of about 12ยบ, push the new plank into the short side of the previous one and lower. The two planks should join perfectly. First brush out the joints with a paintbrush, so they are debris-free when engaging.

Step 4 Complete the 1st row When you get to the last plank in the row, flip the plank upside down. Mark the plank for the cut and remember to leave a 10 mm gap. (Measure to the end of the decorative layer, excluding the tongue.) Cut the plank on the mark using a jigsaw or hand saw. (You can use the other part of the plank as the first plank in the next row, see step 5.) Cut off the tongue section and install as before.

Step 5 The staggered effect To create the staggered effect, ensure that each first plank of the first three rows is cut shorter than the previous plank, as shown in the picture. This automatically ensures that the rows are staggered thereafter. Alternatively, each row can be started with a full plank or a cut piece to obtain the staggered effect.

Step 6 Click 2nd row to 1st At the end of the 2nd row, repeat step 3. Then, starting on the left-hand side, lift the connected planks of the 2nd row to about 12Âş, push the click systems together and press down. Move along the whole row, repeating this process. The systems should engage until the two rows are joined tightly. Repeat this process for every other row.

Step 7 Next to units and walls Here you must make very accurate measurements.

Where a row abuts a unit or wall, you might have to cut one plank to adjust a round the various corners you encounter. Again leave a 10 mm gap so that the plank fits neatly.

Step 8 Door frames and transitions If the laminate floor ends at the room’s door, a profile must be installed in the threshold. Profile type depends on type of flooring in the adjacent area. Fit the profile neatly under the door, leaving a 10 mm gap there as well.

Step 9 Cover expansion gaps Now cover the expansion gaps with skirtings installed along all walls. Cut the skirtings to the desired length and either glue, screw or nail into place. Any remaining gap can be covered with a quadrant placed against the skirting. Quadrants can also cover the expansion gaps against kitchen cabinets.